the decameron(十日谈)-第51章

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granted。　For；　all　the　while　as　Ferando　remaineth　in　Purgatory；　doe　you
but　imagine　him　to　be　present　with　you；　and　your　perswasion　will　the
more　absolutely　be　confirmed。　No　man　can；　or　shall　be　privy　to　our
close　meetings；　for　I　carry　the　same　holy　opinion　among　all　men；　as
you　your　selfe　conceived　of　me；　and　none　dare　be　so　saucie；　as　to　call
in　question　whatsoever　I　doe　or　say；　because　my　words　are　Oracles；　and
mine　actions　more　than　halfe　miracles；　doe　you　not　then　refuse　so
gracious　an　offer。　Enow　there　are；　who　would　gladly　enjoy　that；
which　is　francke　and　freely　presented　to　you；　and　which　（if　you　be　a
wise　Woman）　is　meerely　impossible　for　you　to　refuse。　Richly　am　I
possessed　of　Gold　and　Jewels；　which　shall　be　all　yours；　if　you
please　in　favour　to　be　mine；　wherein　I　will　not　be　gaine…saide；　except
your　selfe　do　deny　me。
　　The　Woman　having　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　ground；　knew　not　well　how
shee　should　denie　him；　and　yet　in　plaine　words；　to　say　shee　consented；
shee　held　it　to　be　overbase　and　immodest；　and　ill　agreeing　with　her
former　reputation：　when　the　Abbot　had　well　noted　this　attention　in
her；　and　how　silent　shee　stood　without　returning　any　answere；　he
accounted　the　conquest　to　be　more　then　halfe　his　owne：　so　that
continuing　on　his　former　perswasions；　hee　never　ceased；　but　allured
her　still　to　beleeve　whatsoever　he　saide。　And　much　ashamed　of　his
importunity；　but　more　of　her　owne　flexible　yeelding　weaknesse；　made
answere；　that　shee　would　willingly　accomplish　his　request；　which　yet
shee　did　not　absolutely　grant；　untill　Ferando　were　first　sent　into
Purgatory。　And　till　then　（quoth　the　Abbot）　I　will　not　urge　any　more；
because　I　purpose　his　speedy　sending　thither：　but　yet；　so　farre　lend
me　your　assistance；　that　either　to　morrow；　or　else　the　next　day；　he
may　come　hither　once　more　to　converse　with　me。　So　putting　a　faire　gold
Ring　on　her　finger；　they　parted　till　the　next　meeting。
　　Not　a　little　joyfull　was　the　Woman　of　so　rich　a　gift；　hoping　to
enjoy　a　great　many　more　of　them；　and　returning　home　to　her　neighbours；
acquainted　them　with　wonderfull　matters；　all　concerning　the
sanctimonious　life　of　the　Abbot；　a　meere　miracle　of　men；　and　worthy　to
be　truely　termed　a　Saint。　Within　two　dayes　after；　Ferando　went　to
the　Abbey　againe；　and　so　soone　as　the　Abbot　espyed　him；　he　presently
prepared　for　his　sending　of　him　into　Purgatorie。　He　never　was
without　a　certaine　kinde　of　drugge；　which　being　beaten　into　powder；
would　worke　so　powerfully　upon　the　braine；　and　all　the　other　vitall
senses；　as　to　entrance　them　with　a　deadly　sleepe；　and　deprive　them
of　all　motion；　either　in　the　pulses；　or　in　any　other　part　else；　even
as　if　the　body　were　dead　indeede；　in　which　operation；　it　would　so　hold
and　continue；　according　to　the　quantity　given　and　drunke；　as　it
preased　the　Abbot　to　order　the　matter。　This　powder　or　drugge；　was　sent
him　by　a　great　Prince　of　the　East；　and　therewith　he　wrought　wonders
upon　his　Novices；　sending　them　into　Purgatory　when　he　pleased；　and
by　such　punishments　as　he　inflicted　on　them　there；　made　them　（like
credulous　asses）　believe　whatsoever　himselfe　listed。
　　So　much　of　this　powder　had　the　Abbot　provided；　as　should　suffice　for
three　dayes　entrancing；　and　having　compounded　it　with　a　very
pleasant　Wine；　calling　Ferando　into　his　Chamber；　there　gave　it　him
to　drinke；　and　afterward　walked　with　him　about　the　Cloyster；　in　very
friendly　conference　together；　the　silly　sot　never　dreaming　on　the
treachery　intended　against　him。　Many　Monkes　beside　were　recreating
themselves　in　the　Cloyster；　most　of　them　delighting　to　behold　the
follies　of　Ferando；　on　whom　the　potion　beganne　so　to　worke；　that　he
slept　in　walking；　nodding　and　reeling　as　hee　went；　till　at　the　last　he
fell　downe；　as　if　he　had　bene　dead。
　　The　Abbot　pretending　great　admiration　at　this　accident；　called　his
Monkes　about　him；　all　labouring　by　rubbing　his　temples；　throwing
cold　water　and　vinegar　in　his　face；　to　revive　him　againe；　alleaging
that　some　fume　or　vapour　in　the　stomacke；　had　thus　over…awed　his
understanding　faculties；　and　quite　deprived　him　of　life　indeede。　At
length；　when　by　tasting　the　pulse；　and　all　their　best　employed　paines；
they　saw　that　their　labour　was　spent　in　vaine；　the　Abbot　used　such
perswasions　to　the　Monkes；　that　they　all　beleeved　him　to　be　dead：
whereupon　they　sent　for　his　wife　and　friends；　who　crediting　as　much　as
the　rest　did；　were　very　sad　and　sorrowfull　for　him。
　　The　Abbot　（cloathed　as　he　was）　laide　him　in　a　hollow　vault　under　a
Tombe；　such　as　there　are　used　instead　of　Graves；　his　Wife　returning
home　againe　to　her　House；　with　a　young　Sonne　which　shee　had　by　her
Husband；　protesting　to　keepe　still　within　her　House；　and　never　more　to
be　seene　in　any　company；　but　onely　to　attend　her　young　Sonne；　and　be
very　carefull　of　such　wealth　as　her　Husband　had　left　unto　her。
　From　the　City　of　Bologna；　that　very　instant　day；　a　well　staide　and
governed　Monke　there　arrived；　who　was　a　neere　kinsman　to　the　Abbot；
and　one　whom　he　might　securely　trust。　In　the　dead　time　of　the　night；
the　Abbot　and　this　Monke　arose；　and　taking　Ferando　out　of　the　vault；
carried　him　into　a　darke　dungeon　or　prison；　which　he　termed　by　the
name　of　Purgatory；　and　where　hee　used　to　discipline　his　Monkes；　when
they　had　committed　any　notorious　offence；　deserving　to　be　punished
in　Purgatory。　There　they　tooke　off　all　his　usuall　wearing　garments；
and　cloathed　him　in　the　habite　of　a　Monke；　even　as　if　he　had　beene　one
of　the　house；　and　laying　him　m　a　bundle　of　straw；　so　left　him　untill
his　senses　should　be　restored　againe。　On　the　day　following；　late　in
the　evening；　the　Abbot；　accompanied　with　his　trusty　Monke；　（by　way
of　visitation）　went　to　see　and　comfort　the　supposed　widow；　finding　her
attired　in　blacke；　very　sad　and　pensive；　which　by　his　wonted
perswasions；　indifferently　he　appeased；　challenging　the　benefit　of
promise。　Shee　being　thus　alone；　not　hindered　by　her　Husbands
jealousie；　and　espying　another　goodly　gold　Ring　on　his　finger；　how
frailety　and　folly　over…ruled　her；　I　know　not；　shee　was　a　weake　woman；
he　a　divelish　deluding　man；　and　the　strongest　holdes　by　over　long
battery　and　besieging；　must　needs　yeeld　at　the　last；　as　I　feare　shee
did：　for　very　often　afterward；　the　Abbot　used　in　this　manner　to
visit　her；　and　the　simple　ignorant　Country　people；　carrying　no　such
ill　opinion　of　the　holy　Abbot；　and　having…　seene　Ferando　lying　for
dead　in　the　vault；　and　also　in　the　habite　of　a　Monke；　were　verily
perswaded；　that　when　they　saw　the　Abbot　passe　by　to　and　fro；　but
most　commonly　in　the　night　season；　it　was　the　ghost　of　Ferando；　who
walked　in　this　manner　after　his　death；　as　a　just　pennance　for　his
jealousie。
　　When　Ferandoes　senses　were　recovered　againe；　and　he　found　himselfe
to　be　in　such　a　darkesome　place；　not　knowing　where　he　was；　he
beganne　to　crie　and　make　a　noyse。　When　presently　the　Monke　of
Bologna　（according　as　the　Abbot　had　tutored　him）　stept　into　the
dungeon；　carrying　a　little　waxe　candle　in　the　one　hand；　and　a　smarting
whip　in　the　other；　going　to　Ferando；　he　stript　off　his　cloathes；　and
began　to　lash　him　very　soundly。　Ferando　roaring　and　crying；　could
say　nothing　else；　but　where　am　I？　The　Monke　（with　a　dreadfull　voyce）
replyed：　Thou　art　in　Purgatory。　How？　saide　Ferando；　what？　Am　I　dead？
Thou　art　dead　（quoth　the　Monke）　and　began　to　lash　him　lustily
againe。　Poore　Ferando；　crying　out　for　his　Wife　and　little　Sonne；
demanded　a　number　of　idle　questions；　whereto　the　Monke　still　fitted
him　with　as　fantasticke　answers。　Within　a　while　after；　he　set　both
foode　and　wine　before　him；　which　when　Ferando　saw；　he　saide；　How　is
this？　Doe　dead　men　eate　and　drinke？　Yes；　replyed　the　Monke；　and　this
foode　which　here　thou　seest；　thy　Wife　brought　hither　to　the　Church
this　morning；　to　have　Masses　devoutly　sung　for　thy　soule；　and　as　to
other；　so　must　it　be　set　before　thee；　for　such　is　the　command　of　the
Patrone　of　this　place。
　　Ferando　having　lyen　entranced　three　dayes　and　three　nights；　felt　his
stomacke　well　prepared　to　eate；　and　feeding　very　heartily；　still
saide；　O　my　good　Wife；　O　my　loving　Wife；　long　mayest　thou　live　for
this　extraordinary　kindnesse。　I　promise　thee　（sweete　heart）　while　I
was　alive；　I　cannot　remember；　that　ever　any　foode　and　wine　was　halfe
so　pleasing　to　me。　O　my　deare　Wife；　O　my　hony　Wife。　Canst　thou
（quoth　the　Monke）　prayse　and　commend　her　now；　using　her　so
villainously　in　thy　life　time？　Then　did　he　whip　him　more　fiercely　then
before；　when　Ferando　holding　up　his　hands；　as　craving　for　mercy；
demanded　wherefore　he　was　so　severely　punished？　I　am　so　commanded
（quoth　the　Monke）　by　supreme　power；　and　twice　every　day　must　thou　be
thus　disciplinde。　Upon　what　occasion？　replyed　Ferando。　Because
（quoth　the　Monke）　thou　wast　most　notoriously　jealous　of　thy　Wife；　shee
being　the　very　kindest　woman　to　thee；　as　all　the　Countrey　containeth
not　her　equall。　It　is　too　true；　answered　Ferando；　I　was　over…much
jealous　of　her　indeede：　but　had　I　knowne；　that　jealousie　was　such　a
hatefull　sinne　against　Heaven；　I　never　would　have　offended　therein。
　　Now　（quoth　the　Monke）　thou　canst　confesse　thine　owne　wilfull　follie；
but　this　should　have　beene　thought　on　before；　and　whilest　thou　wast
living　in　the　World。　But　if　the　Fates　vouchsafe　to　favour　thee　so
much；　as　hereafter　to　send　thee　to　the　World　once　more；　remember　thy
punishment　here　in　Purgatory；　and　sinne　no　more　in　that　foule　sinne　of
jealousie。　I　pray　you　Sir　tell　me；　replyed　Ferando；　after　men　are
dead；　and　put　into　Purgatory；　is　there　any　hope　of　their　ever　visiting
the　World　any　more？　Yes；　saide　the　Monke；　if　the　fury　of　the　Fates
be　once　appeased。　O　that　I　knew　（quoth　Ferando）　by　what　meanes　they
would　be　appeased；　and　let　me　visite　the　World　on　againe：　I　would　be
the　best　Husband　that　ever　lived；　and　never　more　be　jealous；　never
wrong　so　good　a　Wife；　nor　ever　use　one　unkind　word　against　her。　In　the
meane　while；　and　till　their　anger　may　be　qualified；　when　next　my
Wife　doth　send　me　food；　I　pray　you　worke　so　much；　that　some　Candles
may　be　sent　me　also；　because　I　live　here　in　uncomfortable
darkenesse；　and　what　should　I　doe　with　food；　if　I　have　no　light。
Shee　sends　Lights　enow；　answered　the　Monke；　but　they　are　burnt　out
on　the　Altar　in　Masse…time；　and　thou　canst　have　none　other　here；　but
such　as　I　must　bring　my　selfe；　neither　are　they　allowed；　but　onely　for
the　time　of　thy　feeding　and　correcting。
　　Ferando　breathing　foorth　a　vehement　sigh；　desired　to　know　what　he
was；　being　thus　appointed　to　punish　him　in　Purgatory？　I　am　（quoth
the　Monke）　a　dead　man；　as　thou　art；　borne　in　Sardignia；　where　I　served
a　very　jealous　Master；　and　because：　I　soothed　him　in　his　jealousie；
I　had　this　pennance　imposed　on　me；　to　serve　thee　here　in　Purgatory
with　meate　and　drinke；　and　（twice　every　day）　to　discipline　thy　body；
untill　the　Fates　have　otherwise　determined　both　for　thee　and　me。
Why？　saide　Ferando；　are　any　other　persons　here；　beside　you　and　I？　Many
thousands；　replyed　the　Monke；　whom　thou　canst　neither　heare　nor　see；
no　more　then　they　are　able　to　doe　the　like　by　us。　But　how　farre；　saide
Ferando；　is　Purgatory　distant　from　our　native　Countries？　About　some
fifty　thousand　leagues；　answered　the　Monke；　but　yet　passable　in　a
moment；　whensoever　the　offended　Fates